12:00:59 BigTopPeeWeeHowson: Howson has misjudged the market twice now with Nash. The first two weeks of Free Agency seem like the last chance to move him before the start of the season. Are you still confident Nash will not be on the opening night roster?

12:04:33 Portzline: Don't know that it's fair to say he's misjudged the market. The market has not been kind to him (or Nash), but more than anything he's shown extraordinary patience in waiting for the right deal -- patience to the point of frustration, for other NHL GMs and for Nash's camp. I'd be shocked if Nash were on the opening night roster, but not as shocked as a month ago.

12:04:41 TheUnknownFan: Did Tyler Wright really run this draft or was he just following orders? It seems kind of strange to take two goalies so high especially when other issues need to be addressed.

12:07:29 Portzline: Tyler Wright and Paul Castron both share the title of director of amateur scouting, but Wright is said to have the final say. He's obtained a significant amount of power within the organization in a relatively short amount of time. As for the goaltenders ... I think you take the best player there. If you think these guys are NHL caliber, heck, take two more of them. The value of goaltenders is immense. And, as noted in our coverage, they came into the draft with only Allen York in the system below the NHL level. Badly needed prospects to stock the system.

12:07:35 YEAHYEAHYEAH*BEEP*: So, we would have passed on Yakupov if he fell to us at #2? Look, I am very pleased with the addition of Ryan Murray, and I think he'll be very good for years to come, but if they passed on Yakupov @ 2 (should he have been there)... I mean... what is it? They don't like his Ovechkin-esque attitude or that he follows every girl on Twitter with a moderately attractive profile pic? Or was it the "He's Russian" thing all over again...?

12:10:58 Portzline: Yes, they would have passed on Yakupov at No. 2. Howson said as much after the draft. The Blue Jackets never said specifically what they didn't like about Yakupov, as there is no reason to disparage the kid. But they weren't the only club wary of certain aspects of his game/personality. Now that I think about it, who he follows on Twitter must have made an impact. :)

12:11:03 DKC: Question for Porty.... This morning you tweeted that both CHI and TOR were not on Luongo's list of places ro which he was willing to waive his NTC. Confident source? Will that list change?

12:12:39 Portzline: Yes, extremely confident. Gold standard, or I wouldn't have put it out there. As of now -- and that's a key phrase -- he's only approved Florida as a trade destination. That's where he want's to go (again) and he's trying to steer a trade in that direction. As of today -- again, key phrase -- he has not cleared the way for a trade to Chicago or Toronto. Can that change? Absolutely. But the Panthers are the choice.

12:12:44 BJFan1: So the Nash Saga is dragging on... and chance there's a light at the end of the tunnel to at least get rid of Mason????

12:17:50 Portzline: Unless the Blue Jackets buy out Mason's contract -- which seems unlikely -- it appears he'll form with Bobrovsky to be the Blue Jackets' 1-2 punch. Howson has made it clear that they'll continue to look for goaltending that can help at the NHL level, but that will be difficult in free agency, unless you're signing damaged goods. Let's face it, free agent goaltenders won't be too eager to sign up to be part of a three-headed monster. They could see Bobrovsky and Mason as unsettled in their roles, I suppose, but ... My sense is the Jackets sign a 3-4 guy to play with York in Springfield and Mason and Bobrovsky end up battling for No.2. A wise man once told me: "Guys who have a chance to be No. 1 goaltenders have a name. They're called No. 2 goaltenders." By that way of thinking, the Jackets have two No. 2s.

12:17:54 jacketstigers: What does it say about that organization--or lack thereof--when 4 scouts get fired moments after a draft?

12:20:52 Portzline: This is a tricky business, firing scouts. There's no good time to do it. The fiscal NHL year runs through June 30, so that's when their contracts expire. It makes no sense to do it mid-season, right? So when can you do it that it makes sense. One further note: I know it's easy as a franchise that's struggled to blast everybody and everything associated with the process, but those scouts who got fired were good, good men, hard-working guys with a real passion for the game. No doubt they'll find work again.

12:21:00 jtm84: With Murray now in the fold, does that mean there's even more of a possibility of a Methot trade? I'd have to think he'd be the regular healthy scratch if he isn't dealt.

12:24:07 Portzline: Well, it gives the Blue Jackets an extra defenseman, so that provides some flexibility, perhaps more willingness to deal a defenseman. But ... nobody knows, or will know until training camp, if Murray is ready to play in the NHL. It's not a bad thing -- and it would be a first -- for the Blue Jackets to have proven NHL depth at defense. I'm not so certain Methot would be the odd guy out, either.

12:24:11 adamgellings: Outside of this newest rookie class, who are a couple of names that you're looking forward to seeing most at CBJ development camp?

12:26:39 Portzline: Really want to see the goaltenders, and Murray. But you made the question tougher, didn't you. Boone Jenner is always worth the price of admission. G Anton Forsberg is another guy I want to see. Dalton Smith needs a strong showing, too. Lots to look forward to.

12:26:47 AA hockey for NHL $: The reaction of Murray and his family struck me as "not happy" when his name was called in comparison to just about every other 1t round pick. Did you notice and is this going to be an issue?

12:30:02 Portzline: Didn't see that, to be honest with you. He seemed genuinely happy after the fact, and it came through in his body language and words. For a lot of these guys, the process is so crazy-long and exhaustive. They sit through interview after interview -- not just with media, but with the teams -- and get asked the same questions over and over. Every moment of their life, every inch of their being is investigated. It's exciting, I'm sure. But I be the prevailing feeling at that moment is relief.

12:30:08 TheUnknownFan: Do you think the CBJ will be able to address the scoring issue by signing Free Agents?

12:32:09 Portzline: No. They can find a few guys who can be second- or third-tier contributors, but it's a thin market in that respect. Goal-scoring could be a real problem this season, depending on what they get back from the Nash deal. But it's not going to be a player as potent offensively as Nash, right?

12:32:13 BJFan1: Do you think Murray is NHL ready??? Will he be playing here this season??? If so, what do you envision the d-lines looking like??? Does Savard end up back in Springfield???

12:33:52 Portzline: I don't have an opinion on Murray, as I've never seen him play live. Many scouts think he's NLH ready, yes, so it won't be a shock if he plays in Columbus this season. The guess here is that he would play on the second or third pair, depending on partner. Would probably start with 14-18 minutes per night and move up from there. Something fun to watch in training camp, for sure.

12:33:59 Ryan: Are there no longer any "untouchables" when it comes to trading players?

12:35:15 Portzline: Well, Jack Johnson is about as close to untouchable as a Blue Jacket can be right now. That might be it. Some guys have contracts that would serve, in a sense, as a no-trade clause.

12:35:21 BigTopPeeWeeHowson: Is there truth to the rumor that Garth Snow offered Howson the Isles entire draft for Murray?

12:35:53 Portzline: Not a rumor. We have a story about it on our Puck-rakers blog. Check it out.

12:36:02 TheUnknownFan: Do you think the CBJ were right in not using LAs pick this year? I've heard that the draft next year is pretty shallow with the exception of MacKinnon.

12:36:57 Portzline: So far away from next year's draft, but I've heard it's much better than this year's draft. There are a few special players at the top already, including your guy MacKinnon. "Stop Winnin' For MacKinnon" will get legs from the 30th place team pretty quickly next season.

12:37:03 JacketsFuture: Im looking forward to the trio of Johansen, Moore and Murray. Do you think the Jackets need to adress that age of young players for the future or NHL ready guys?

12:39:32 Portzline: Much will be expected of Moore and Johansen this year. One question is how the D-pairs break, because Johnson - Wisniewski, Tyutin - Nikitin are targeted for top two pairs. Hard to imagine putting a rookie (Murray) in with a youngster (Moore) on the third pair, and it's hard to imagine Moore being bumped to play Murray and Methot together. Very interesting.

12:39:47 Howson'sHopeless: Is there any reason that a Bobby Ryan / Rick Nash swap doesn't work in some shape or form (a Bobby Ryan NTC notwithstanding)? It seems like both would be interested in the change of scenery and would involve the fewest number of "throw-in" pieces changing hands.

12:41:16 Portzline: That's an option that makes sense ... to me, anyway. Don't know if Anaheim would want that kind of money coming back or not with Nash. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes down. Flyers counting on Ryan? Rangers on Nash? Who gets Parise? All wrinkles to this.

12:41:22 Trav614: Which situation is worse, the Bobby Ryan situation or the Rick Nash situation?

12:44:05 Portzline: Worse in what sense? Both players appear to want out of their current situations. Ryan will be easier to move, as he's younger and cheaper. One thing hurting Nash, I believe, is the public perception of the Blue Jackets after years of losing. He's seen as a good player on a bad team. Don't think people outside the market -- especially Eastern Conference teams -- realize how dominating a player he can be. He hasn't been such a beast the last two seasons. But if he gets back to previous form, he's a special, special talent.

12:44:16 FormerLeafsFan: I get the sense that Howson has fabricated some truths recently. Ex 1: "We'll keep Nash next year" = Put more teams on your list, Rick. Ex 2: "We have plenty of goalies" = We're not desperate to trade for another. What's your take on the truthiness here? Does anyone else believe him?

12:46:50 Portzline: It's not fabrication. It's not lying. It's poker. If a GMs true intentions are known, it can affect the market place, trade value, etc. Imagine if he said: "I have to trade Rick Nash, and I don't have a choice. I'm probably not going to get full market value for him." Wrong way to go.

12:47:04 dr: Going back to the Nash question. Is Mgt. &/or Nash still as desparate to have a trade transpire as much as they felt in Feb? My sense is that w/the additions/improvements since March, there's less likelihood that either side is strongly pushing for it to happen. View/opinion?

12:50:09 Portzline: Not true. The Nash camp is pushing hard to get a deal done. Howson is trying to get what he feels is market value for Nash. If anything, it's heated up trying to get a deal done. Is Howson asking for too much? Apparenly a few NHL GMs think so, or the deal would be done by now, right? But if you're asking if the two sides are getting back together again, the answer would be no.

12:50:17 #firehowson: @aportzline with a meager FA market, goalie question marks, and possible trde of nash, go out on a limb and give us a "season in review" quote for the end of next season...and try to keep us from jumping off the bridge

12:53:50 Portzline: OK, here's the quote: ("snark" button disengaged) "We made tremendous steps forward in our end of the ices, especially with Bob in goal. We have to score more goals."

12:53:59 Fred: Realisitically, would John Davidson be the best free agent for this franchise?

12:56:48 Portzline: His strength is defining a goal, a message, an identity, and conveying to the fans in a way that breeds confidence, hope and optimism. Yeah, I'd say that would come in handy about now. Davidson would bring in hockey people and put them in position to make decisions. That's his MO. That's what he did in St. Louis.

12:56:57 FormerLeafsFan: Could you see Nash holding out at the beginning of the season (assuming there is one and he's not traded by then)?

12:58:46 Portzline: Nobody knows where this going if he remains with the club -- and if a new CBA is reached -- when training camp opens. He has a contract to play, but that hasn't stopped other players from doing it.

12:58:53 frito: With the upcoming CBA talks, will we finally see a rational reallignment? I really liked the setup the league put forth that the PA shot down and really feel bad for the Jets this year.

13:00:06 Portzline: Next season's schedule is already out, and travel plans underway by the clubs. So it won't happen in 2012-13. But that's one of the topic being discussed with this new CBA, so it's very possible for 2013-14 or beyond.

13:00:10 Rob_(moderator): Thanks, everyone. We'll do it again soon. That's a wrap.

13:00:30 Portzline: Thanks for the questions, everybody. All the best!

Cannon Fodder Podcast

Cannon Fodder is the podcast from The Dispatch sports team covering the Blue Jackets. Tune in for lively discussions about the ta and the rest of the NHL. Subscribe to the show through its RSS feed or iTunes.

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